[Interview] Ozwald Boateng & Director Varon Bonicas speak about documentary ‘A Man’s Story’

 

For twelve years, filmmaker Varon Bonicas followed the life of break-out U.K. fashion designer Ozwald Boateng. Now, his documentary A Man’s Story offering a pure and unadulterated look at Boateng’s both as a man and a designer hits British theaters on March 9. Giving Boateng a say in only the fashion footage, the film depicts the style gatekeeper during trying and triumphant moments of his life and career. Boateng and Bonicas recently sat down with Parlour in London to talk about A Man’s Story and how a couple of men grew closer than they thought they ever would.

Parlour: What bought you two together?

Varon Bonicas: I was working at Sky TV making documentaries and someone suggested I meet Ozwald. They promised that I would get a film camera and I thought that would be amazing — I didn’t realize that I was going to be with this camera for so long. I met him and he was interesting, I’d never met anyone like him. He started talking about this door analogy and big problems in his life. He was open and had an essence of belief that he could do anything through determination.

What about Ozwald inspired you to focus the documentary on the man, not the designer?

VB: I never set out to make a fashion film. I just thought that Ozwald was a interesting guy and wanted to see what would happen on his journey. His backdrop is fashion and he lives in that rarefied world where he’s up there with only a few other people. Fashion is great but I think Ozwald is more interesting.

Mr. Boateng, I read that at moments you felt totally vulnerable while filming, was talking to the camera a form of therapy?

Ozwald Boateng: Maybe a couple of times it was therapeutic, mostly, after 12 years, you’re not thinking about [the camera] anymore. So when things are going right or wrong, Varon just happens to be there in that moment.

Was there ever a point where you just wanted Mr. Bonicas to leave you alone?

OB: Yes! Absolutely a 100%! It was about five years in and I really wanted to stop doing it, so I lost it on Varon during a plane ride to Los Angeles, where I was taking him to be introduced to famous film producer Joel Silver. I wanted to Joel to deter Varon so he could close the chapter [of my documentary] and move on. Joel did the complete opposite and encouraged him to keep going.

Check out  the rest of the interview at Parlour Magazine

 

Interview by Brian C Knight


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